"Powerpoint couldn't create hyperlink to. " Error

Question

I am experiencing the same problem as the one stated below. This makes two of us. Anyone have any answers. I rely on PowerPoint for teaching and I'm short on time.

Hi all,

This stupid program really annoys me.

My Powerpoint on Mac DOES NOT run slide show (ridiculous right?)

Whenever i press the slideshow icon on the bottom left, the first page of the slideshow pops up, and when i press next slide, it prompts that "Powerpoint couldn't create hyperlink to. " Every powerpoint file is like that, i don't have any video or sound file linked to any of my PPT.

That's it.. i have no clue, even the warning itself is incomplete (couldn't create hyperlink to what?)

Very annoying problem. I thought Powerpoint is designed to project slideshow.......

Any one have any idea? please please please share if you have a fix.

Thanks.

PPT version: 14.1.3

Mac OS X 10.6.8

Answer 1

Hi Bart,

You should consider yourself lucky.  You are the first person to report a problem of this nature. Not everyone gets such luck! So you will get to explore the many possibilities that might or might not cure this issue.

Let's start with a few easy things to check.

1. Have you installed the updates available for Office?  To check this, while your computer has a live internet connection, on the PowerPoint Help menu choose Check for Updates.
2. Have you installed the Mac OS updates available? To check this, while your computer has a live internet connection, click on the Apple menu (top left corner of the screen) and choose Software Update.

Fixed?

Yes - Done. Post result in this thread to help next person with this problem.

No - Do more

3. Run Disk Utility (applications > utilities) and use it to repair disk permissions

Fixed?

Yes - Done. Post result in this thread to help next person with this problem.

No - Do more

4. Delete PowerPoint Preferences. See this article for details:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/975723

Note that in Lion the Library folder is hidden.

Fixed?

Yes - Done. Post result in this thread to help next person with this problem.

No - Follow the rest of the steps in the Microsoft art

Answer 2

A PowerPoint file is a bunch of text files combined with media files. You can disassemble a PowerPoint file by changing the file extension from (.pptx) to (.zip) and then double-clicking on the zip file (I suggest doing this on a copy, not the original). Then navigate the resulting folder.

The message indicates that PowerPoint is unable to read one or more items contained within the PowerPoint presentation file. This is almost certainly caused by one of two conditions:

PowerPoint is being blocked by permissions from accessing the contents of the presentation file.

or

An invalid character such as a slash / has been introduced into the file name, a containing folder, or the name of the startup volume.

Answer 3

Hi,

We are having the same issue with PowerPoint on the school MacBooks. I first saw just the odd unit playing up, but now it seems that entire trolleys of MacBooks are having the problem.

Basically when playing a slideshow (under student or admin logon...) from any source (newly created or imported / downloaded, saved or not...) the first slide loads OK, then the slideshow stops with the error: "PowerPoint couldn't create a hyperlink to ."

There are no definitive explanations I could find on the web.

I have obviously tried the standard stuff like deleting the PowerPoint preferences .plist, repairing file permissions etc, but the issue persists.

I have also tried updating Office for Mac, applying all available Apple updates etc.

Also tried using a local account - still the same issue.

Tried unbinding the MacBooks from OD and AD, still the same.

I will have to try an uninstall and re-install, but this is not really a viable option for several hundred MacBooks...

Any ideas appreciated.

Mac OSX 10.6.8

PowerPoint 14.1.3

Cheers Willy

Answer 4

Thanks for the reply. 

The issue occurs on all presentations.

I have followed most of the instructions for the PowerPoint preferences reset but the problem persists. The only step I can not do myself is to fully uninstall and reinstall the Office 2011 suite as the computer is a school issued laptop. I guess my next step is to take it into the IT folks and have them take a look. I was just hoping that I could solve more quickly than the snails pace of public school IT.

If you have any other suggestions please let me know.

Answer 5

Are you facing this issue on a specific presentation or on all presentation?

If it’s an issue on all presentations reset PowerPoint’s preferences and verify the result.